used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At a word the Colonel on his horse dispelled the illusion.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading “Halt!” he cried; the drum and fife ceased, the arms grounded, the soldiers clamoured for their billets.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At a word the Colonel on his horse dispelled the illusion.
awakeadjectiveUS /əˈweɪk/
not in a state of sleep; completely conscious
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
billetsnounUS /ˈbɪləts/
plural of “billet” — a short personal letter
From this reading “Halt!” he cried; the drum and fife ceased, the arms grounded, the soldiers clamoured for their billets.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Over the hill of Strone the morning paled, out of the gloom the phantom body came a corps most human, thirsty, hungry, travel-strained.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Gilian ran home and found the household awake but unconscious of the great doings in the town.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Over the hill of Strone the morning paled, out of the gloom the phantom body came a corps most human, thirsty, hungry, travel-strained.
past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity
From this reading “Halt!” he cried; the drum and fife ceased, the arms grounded, the soldiers clamoured for their billets.
clamoured
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Halt!” he cried; the drum and fife ceased, the arms grounded, the soldiers clamoured for their billets.
a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general
From this reading At a word the Colonel on his horse dispelled the illusion.
corpsnounUS /kɔːr/
an army unit usually consisting of two or more divisions and their support
From this reading Over the hill of Strone the morning paled, out of the gloom the phantom body came a corps most human, thirsty, hungry, travel-strained.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Halt!” he cried; the drum and fife ceased, the arms grounded, the soldiers clamoured for their billets.
dispelledverbUS /dɪˈspeld/
inflected form of “dispel” — force to go away; used both with concrete and metaphoric meanings
From this reading At a word the Colonel on his horse dispelled the illusion.
doingsnounUS /ˈduːɪŋz/
manner of acting or controlling yourself
From this reading Gilian ran home and found the household awake but unconscious of the great doings in the town.
drumnounUS /drʌm/
a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
From this reading “Halt!” he cried; the drum and fife ceased, the arms grounded, the soldiers clamoured for their billets.
drumsnounUS /drʌmz/
plural of “drum” — a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
fifenounUS /faɪf/
a small high-pitched flute similar to a piccolo; has a shrill tone and is used chiefly to accompany drums in a marching band
From this reading “Halt!” he cried; the drum and fife ceased, the arms grounded, the soldiers clamoured for their billets.
fifes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “Halt!” he cried; the drum and fife ceased, the arms grounded, the soldiers clamoured for their billets.
set up or found
From this reading Gilian ran home and found the household awake but unconscious of the great doings in the town.
Gilian
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Gilian ran home and found the household awake but unconscious of the great doings in the town.
a state of partial or total darkness
From this reading Over the hill of Strone the morning paled, out of the gloom the phantom body came a corps most human, thirsty, hungry, travel-strained.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Gilian ran home and found the household awake but unconscious of the great doings in the town.
groundedverbUS /ˈɡraʊndɪd/
past form of “ground” — fix firmly and stably
From this reading “Halt!” he cried; the drum and fife ceased, the arms grounded, the soldiers clamoured for their billets.
HaltverbUS /hɔːlt/
cause to stop
From this reading “Halt!” he cried; the drum and fife ceased, the arms grounded, the soldiers clamoured for their billets.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
a local and well-defined elevation of the land
From this reading Over the hill of Strone the morning paled, out of the gloom the phantom body came a corps most human, thirsty, hungry, travel-strained.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading At a word the Colonel on his horse dispelled the illusion.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Gilian ran home and found the household awake but unconscious of the great doings in the town.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading At a word the Colonel on his horse dispelled the illusion.
a social unit living together
From this reading Gilian ran home and found the household awake but unconscious of the great doings in the town.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading Over the hill of Strone the morning paled, out of the gloom the phantom body came a corps most human, thirsty, hungry, travel-strained.
feeling hunger; feeling a need or desire to eat food
From this reading Over the hill of Strone the morning paled, out of the gloom the phantom body came a corps most human, thirsty, hungry, travel-strained.
illusionnounUS /ˌɪˈluːʒən/
an erroneous mental representation
From this reading At a word the Colonel on his horse dispelled the illusion.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading Over the hill of Strone the morning paled, out of the gloom the phantom body came a corps most human, thirsty, hungry, travel-strained.
used to form the superlative
From this reading Over the hill of Strone the morning paled, out of the gloom the phantom body came a corps most human, thirsty, hungry, travel-strained.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Over the hill of Strone the morning paled, out of the gloom the phantom body came a corps most human, thirsty, hungry, travel-strained.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading At a word the Colonel on his horse dispelled the illusion.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Over the hill of Strone the morning paled, out of the gloom the phantom body came a corps most human, thirsty, hungry, travel-strained.
OverprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Over the hill of Strone the morning paled, out of the gloom the phantom body came a corps most human, thirsty, hungry, travel-strained.
paledverbUS /peɪld/
past form of “pale” — turn pale, as if in fear
From this reading Over the hill of Strone the morning paled, out of the gloom the phantom body came a corps most human, thirsty, hungry, travel-strained.
phantomnounUS /ˈfæn.təm/
A ghost or apparition; a figment of the imagination or a hidden dweller.
From this reading Over the hill of Strone the morning paled, out of the gloom the phantom body came a corps most human, thirsty, hungry, travel-strained.
poundingnounUS /ˈpaʊndɪŋ/
repeated heavy blows
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Gilian ran home and found the household awake but unconscious of the great doings in the town.
shrillingnoun
a continuing shrill noise
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army
From this reading “Halt!” he cried; the drum and fife ceased, the arms grounded, the soldiers clamoured for their billets.
make square
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
not in physical motion
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
Strone
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over the hill of Strone the morning paled, out of the gloom the phantom body came a corps most human, thirsty, hungry, travel-strained.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading “Halt!” he cried; the drum and fife ceased, the arms grounded, the soldiers clamoured for their billets.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
thirstyadjectiveUS /ˈθɜːrsti/
needing moisture
From this reading Over the hill of Strone the morning paled, out of the gloom the phantom body came a corps most human, thirsty, hungry, travel-strained.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
travel-strained
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Over the hill of Strone the morning paled, out of the gloom the phantom body came a corps most human, thirsty, hungry, travel-strained.
not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
From this reading Gilian ran home and found the household awake but unconscious of the great doings in the town.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He followed them to the square, still with the drums pounding and the fifes shrilling, and now the town was awake in every window.
a unit of language that native speakers can identify
From this reading At a word the Colonel on his horse dispelled the illusion.
